Weeks 1-2 (Jan. 6-10)
M 6 (B) Q2 Reflection; update reading logs
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky note responses
T 7 (C) 6A: Discuss blogs, blogging -- how to improve, what to work on, taking responsibility for posts; clean up blogging space for next steps; read and comment; preview Wordskills, Unit 6
HW: Do Wordskills, Unit 6, parts A-C (unless you are exempt from vocabulary workbook assignments)
6B: Discuss blogs, blogging -- how to improve, what to work on, taking responsibility for posts; preview Wordskills, Unit 6
W 8 (D) 6B: Clean up blogging space for next steps; read and comment; complete Wordskills, Unit 6, and check answers
HW: Study for Vocabulary Quiz: Wordskills, Unit 6, scheduled for tomorrow
Th 9 (E) Vocabulary Quiz: Wordskills, Unit 6; independent reading (sticky notes, of course)
Independent reading and 3 sticky note responses
F 10 (F) Introduction to poetry: envisionment, inference, interpretation
Read together: Nye, "The Rider"
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (one each on envisionment, inference, and interpretation)
Week 2 (Jan 13-17)
M 13 (A) Read Willard, "A Hardware Store as Proof of the Existence of God"; in-class writing: poem (word, word, words)
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (practice envisionment, inference, and interpretation)
T 14 (B) Read Williams, "The Figure 5 in Gold"
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (practice close reading to look for poetic language)
W 15 (C) 6A Begin blog post #5: response to another blog post; 6A-6B: preview English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement
HW: English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-172 (evens)
Th 16 (D) 6B Begin blog post #5: response to another blogpost; continue English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 173-176 (evens); check work
HW: Study for grammar quiz, English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-176
F (E) Grammar Quiz, English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-176
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes, continue to practice close reading
Week 3 (Jan 21-24)
M 20 Holiday
T 21 (F) Read William Stafford's "One Time"; start in-class writing: Imagist/Catalog poem
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (look for particularly effective images and mataphors -- what makes them work so well?)
W 22 (A) Complete and share imagist/catalog poems
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (close reading; figurative language)
Th 23 (B) Introduction to narrative poems; read and discuss: Dudley Randall, "The Ballad of Birmingham"
HW: Prepare independent reading logs/notes for submission
F 24 "Snow" Day
Week 4 (Jan 27-31)
M 27 (C) Independent Reading Logs/Notes due; work on blog post #5: response to another student's post
HW: Complete Blog Post 5
T 28 "Snow" day
W 29 (D) Work on blogs
Th 30 (E) Poetic Forms: The Ballad
Read and discuss: "Barbara Allen"
Art Garfunkel version; EmmyLou Harris version (from the film Songcatcher)
Independent Reading and 3 sticky notes
F 31 (F) In-class writing: Ballad stanza (refrain)
Independent Reading and 3 sticky notes
1. Write your refrain to get the hang of a ballad stanza. This verse will be repeated throughout your ballad, though it may change slightly.
1. Decide on your story.
-- Legendary, larger-than life character
-- Big conflict
2. Plot your narrative into stanzas
-- Introduce protagonist
-- Introduce conflict
-- Develop conflict
-- Resolve conflict
Tell your story in four-line stanzas with at least 2 lines (2nd and 4th) that rhyme. The first and third lines can rhyme or not -- your choice, but be consistent throughout your poem.
Lines are of close to equal length (this will help with meter later). Sometimes the 2nd and 4th lines are a bit shorter than the 1st and 3rd lines.
Try to sing your ballad -- this will help you work on creating a regular beat or rhythm. See below:
“Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?”
from Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham"
Note: Bold indicates stressed syllables; regular type indicates unstressed syllables, especially in comparison to the ones around them.
Week 5 (Feb 3-7)
M 3 (A) Finish ballad
HW: Finish your ballad if needed; prepare to share
T 4 (B) Ballad sharing
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
W 5 (C) Begin blog post #6: free post; continue English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement: compound subjects, collective nouns, inverted sentences, amounts, titles, contractions
HW: English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 179-184 (evens)
Th 6 (D) Continue work on blog post #6: free post; continue English Workshop, Ch. 17: continue with pp. 185-186 and check answers
HW: English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 185-186 (Chapter review)
F 7 (E) Check chapter review and review for chapter test: English Workshop, Ch. 17
Study for grammar test on English Workshop, Ch. 17
Week 6 (Feb 10-14)
M 10 (F) Grammar test: English Workshop, Ch. 17
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
T 11 (A) Prepare poetry manuscript; type 3 poems: praise poem ("Words, Words, Words"), imagist/catalog poem, and ballad -- be prepared to revise in class on Monday (bring or have access to digital versions)
W 12 (B) Revising poems; begin introduction to poetry portfolio
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
Th 13 (C) Work on blog post #6; preview vocabulary, Unit 7
HW: Wordskills, Unit 7
F 14 (D) Complete blog post #6; finish and check vocabulary, Unit 7
HW: Study for vocabulary quiz, Unit 7
Week 7 (Feb 18-21)
M 17 HOLIDAY
T 18 (E) Vocabulary quiz, Unit 7; revise introduction for poetry portfolio
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
W 19 (F) Revising introduction; prepare for poetry slam
HW: Poetry portfolio due tomorrow -- complete and submit via dropbox for quicker feedback; bring a printed copy as back-up
Th 20 (A) Poetry portfolio due; begin preparations for poetry slam/art exhibit
HW: Collect materials for working on poetry slam/art exhibits -- be prepared to work in class tomorrow
F 21 (B) Continue working on poetry slam/art exhibit
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
Week 8 (Feb 24-28)
M 24 (C) Commenting, begin Blog post #7: explicate a poem; review vocabulary (Unit 8)
HW: Wordskills, Unit 8, pp. 93-97
T 25 (D) Continue commenting, blog post #7; finish Wordskills, Unit 8; check answers
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
W 26 (E) continue work on poetry project
HW: Review for vocabulary test, Units 5-8
Th 27 (F) continue work on poetry project
HW: Study for vocabulary test, Units 5-8
F 28 (A) Vocabulary Review Test: Units 5-8
HW: Prepare Independent Reading Logs/Notes for submission (minimum 10 logs and 30 notes); cont. work on poetry project if needed
End of Q3
Q4
Week 1 (March 3-6)
M 3 (B) Reading logs/notes due; Q3 reflection; continue work on poetry project
HW: Work on poetry project if needed; independent reading
T 4 (C) Continue work on poetry project; all poetry art projects due at end of period (for hanging)
HW: Independent reading, prepare for Poetry Slam as needed
W 5 (D) POETRY SLAM/ART EXHIBIT
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
Th 6 (E) Blogging: continue work on blog post 7 (explication)
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
F 7 No school (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Week 2 (March 10-14)
M 10 (F) Introduction to Shakespeare; sonnets 90 and 146 (from Julius Caesar)
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
T 11 (A) Introduction to Julius Caesar
HW: Preview Act I of Julius Caesar
W 12 (B) Act I
HW: Read Act I of Julius Caesar
Th 13 (C) 6A: blogging: blog post 7 (due at end of period)
6B: Act I
HW: Continue reading Act I
F 14 (D) 6B: blogging: blog post 7 (due at end of period)
6A: Act I
M 6 (B) Q2 Reflection; update reading logs
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky note responses
T 7 (C) 6A: Discuss blogs, blogging -- how to improve, what to work on, taking responsibility for posts; clean up blogging space for next steps; read and comment; preview Wordskills, Unit 6
HW: Do Wordskills, Unit 6, parts A-C (unless you are exempt from vocabulary workbook assignments)
6B: Discuss blogs, blogging -- how to improve, what to work on, taking responsibility for posts; preview Wordskills, Unit 6
W 8 (D) 6B: Clean up blogging space for next steps; read and comment; complete Wordskills, Unit 6, and check answers
HW: Study for Vocabulary Quiz: Wordskills, Unit 6, scheduled for tomorrow
Th 9 (E) Vocabulary Quiz: Wordskills, Unit 6; independent reading (sticky notes, of course)
Independent reading and 3 sticky note responses
F 10 (F) Introduction to poetry: envisionment, inference, interpretation
Read together: Nye, "The Rider"
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (one each on envisionment, inference, and interpretation)
Week 2 (Jan 13-17)
M 13 (A) Read Willard, "A Hardware Store as Proof of the Existence of God"; in-class writing: poem (word, word, words)
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (practice envisionment, inference, and interpretation)
T 14 (B) Read Williams, "The Figure 5 in Gold"
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (practice close reading to look for poetic language)
W 15 (C) 6A Begin blog post #5: response to another blog post; 6A-6B: preview English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement
HW: English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-172 (evens)
Th 16 (D) 6B Begin blog post #5: response to another blogpost; continue English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 173-176 (evens); check work
HW: Study for grammar quiz, English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-176
F (E) Grammar Quiz, English Workshop, ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 169-176
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes, continue to practice close reading
Week 3 (Jan 21-24)
M 20 Holiday
T 21 (F) Read William Stafford's "One Time"; start in-class writing: Imagist/Catalog poem
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (look for particularly effective images and mataphors -- what makes them work so well?)
W 22 (A) Complete and share imagist/catalog poems
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes (close reading; figurative language)
Th 23 (B) Introduction to narrative poems; read and discuss: Dudley Randall, "The Ballad of Birmingham"
HW: Prepare independent reading logs/notes for submission
F 24 "Snow" Day
Week 4 (Jan 27-31)
M 27 (C) Independent Reading Logs/Notes due; work on blog post #5: response to another student's post
HW: Complete Blog Post 5
T 28 "Snow" day
W 29 (D) Work on blogs
Th 30 (E) Poetic Forms: The Ballad
Read and discuss: "Barbara Allen"
Art Garfunkel version; EmmyLou Harris version (from the film Songcatcher)
Independent Reading and 3 sticky notes
F 31 (F) In-class writing: Ballad stanza (refrain)
Independent Reading and 3 sticky notes
1. Write your refrain to get the hang of a ballad stanza. This verse will be repeated throughout your ballad, though it may change slightly.
1. Decide on your story.
-- Legendary, larger-than life character
-- Big conflict
2. Plot your narrative into stanzas
-- Introduce protagonist
-- Introduce conflict
-- Develop conflict
-- Resolve conflict
- Tell your story in four-line stanzas with at least 2 lines (2nd and 4th) that rhyme. The first and third lines can rhyme or not -- your choice, but be consistent throughout your poem.
Lines are of close to equal length (this will help with meter later). Sometimes the 2nd and 4th lines are a bit shorter than the 1st and 3rd lines.“Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?”
from Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham"
Note: Bold indicates stressed syllables; regular type indicates unstressed syllables, especially in comparison to the ones around them.
Week 5 (Feb 3-7)
M 3 (A) Finish ballad
HW: Finish your ballad if needed; prepare to share
T 4 (B) Ballad sharing
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
W 5 (C) Begin blog post #6: free post; continue English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement: compound subjects, collective nouns, inverted sentences, amounts, titles, contractions
HW: English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 179-184 (evens)
Th 6 (D) Continue work on blog post #6: free post; continue English Workshop, Ch. 17: continue with pp. 185-186 and check answers
HW: English Workshop, Ch. 17: Agreement, pp. 185-186 (Chapter review)
F 7 (E) Check chapter review and review for chapter test: English Workshop, Ch. 17
Study for grammar test on English Workshop, Ch. 17
Week 6 (Feb 10-14)
M 10 (F) Grammar test: English Workshop, Ch. 17
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
T 11 (A) Prepare poetry manuscript; type 3 poems: praise poem ("Words, Words, Words"), imagist/catalog poem, and ballad -- be prepared to revise in class on Monday (bring or have access to digital versions)
W 12 (B) Revising poems; begin introduction to poetry portfolio
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
Th 13 (C) Work on blog post #6; preview vocabulary, Unit 7
HW: Wordskills, Unit 7
F 14 (D) Complete blog post #6; finish and check vocabulary, Unit 7
HW: Study for vocabulary quiz, Unit 7
Week 7 (Feb 18-21)
M 17 HOLIDAY
T 18 (E) Vocabulary quiz, Unit 7; revise introduction for poetry portfolio
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
W 19 (F) Revising introduction; prepare for poetry slam
HW: Poetry portfolio due tomorrow -- complete and submit via dropbox for quicker feedback; bring a printed copy as back-up
Th 20 (A) Poetry portfolio due; begin preparations for poetry slam/art exhibit
HW: Collect materials for working on poetry slam/art exhibits -- be prepared to work in class tomorrow
F 21 (B) Continue working on poetry slam/art exhibit
HW: Independent reading and 3 sticky notes
Week 8 (Feb 24-28)
M 24 (C) Commenting, begin Blog post #7: explicate a poem; review vocabulary (Unit 8)
HW: Wordskills, Unit 8, pp. 93-97
T 25 (D) Continue commenting, blog post #7; finish Wordskills, Unit 8; check answers
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
W 26 (E) continue work on poetry project
HW: Review for vocabulary test, Units 5-8
Th 27 (F) continue work on poetry project
HW: Study for vocabulary test, Units 5-8
F 28 (A) Vocabulary Review Test: Units 5-8
HW: Prepare Independent Reading Logs/Notes for submission (minimum 10 logs and 30 notes); cont. work on poetry project if needed
End of Q3
Q4
Week 1 (March 3-6)
M 3 (B) Reading logs/notes due; Q3 reflection; continue work on poetry project
HW: Work on poetry project if needed; independent reading
T 4 (C) Continue work on poetry project; all poetry art projects due at end of period (for hanging)
HW: Independent reading, prepare for Poetry Slam as needed
W 5 (D) POETRY SLAM/ART EXHIBIT
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
Th 6 (E) Blogging: continue work on blog post 7 (explication)
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
F 7 No school (Parent-Teacher Conferences)
Week 2 (March 10-14)
M 10 (F) Introduction to Shakespeare; sonnets 90 and 146 (from Julius Caesar)
HW: Independent reading (Reading Challenge)
T 11 (A) Introduction to Julius Caesar
HW: Preview Act I of Julius Caesar
W 12 (B) Act I
HW: Read Act I of Julius Caesar
Th 13 (C) 6A: blogging: blog post 7 (due at end of period)
6B: Act I
HW: Continue reading Act I
F 14 (D) 6B: blogging: blog post 7 (due at end of period)
6A: Act I